Please review, consider and pray over the current situation here and its relationship with our CM2000 plans and preparations.

This will provide a personal view from an African perspective and also add my own assessment and the more official AD2000 position.

A View From Ross Campbell, CM2000 Regional Coordinator for Africa & the South Pacific:

It is important to note that the violence is not taking place in the areas critical to CM2000. The clashes are occurring on the West Bank in Gaza and East Jerusalem (i.e., the areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 war where Palestinians and Israelis are meant to co-exist). To my knowledge, no clashes have taken place in the area Israel controlled before the 1967 war (i.e., Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem, Galilee and other areas critical to CM2000). My personal view is that participants will be safer in Israel than they would be on the streets of most African cities. During the past two months, tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims have visited Israel and during this time there has not been one incident where a tourist has been harmed apart from a TV cameraman who put himself in harms way. If tourists were to have been harmed in any way, I am sure that Western media would have made a big story of it. The same cannot be said of tours to African countries like Kenya, South Africa, Cote D'Ivoire.

My Assessment and the Official AD2000 View:

My wife, Doris and I have been based in Israel for the past three months in preparation for CM2000 and are monitoring the situation daily. We have traveled extensively throughout Israel, including selective visits and meetings in Bethlehem and other Palestinian Authority territories. Of course, prudent care and discretion was always in order.

We are aware that news coverage about the Middle East frequently portrays Israel as a very dangerous place to live or visit. Prominent coverage is often given to the US Embassy's travel advisories for the region, and people are generally discouraged from coming here. However, these advisories are issued for legal (liability) reasons as much as, if not more than, for safety reasons. Events here are localized. Disruption in one part of the country is not necessarily apparent in another part. Trouble, when it occurs, usually happens in the towns and villages of the West Bank. Meanwhile, our plans and preparations continue on schedule for the CM2000 celebration event. We pray our good Lord will continue to bless and provide all that is needed for this historic event.

We recognize that the final decision rests upon each individual or group to consider, not only for themselves but also for those they represent as well. For those who decide to come, we are making the prudent arrangements conducive to safety, yet we cannot guarantee and do not take responsibility for the well being of any participant as the organizing body of the event. Please pray over this whole situation and plan to come join us, as you are led!